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Photo by Paipateroma / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 / GFDL 1.2+)
UPCOMINGFREE ENTRYMatsuri· Annual
Paantu Mud Festival
パーントゥ
Okinawa
A UNESCO-listed ritual at Shimajiri on Miyako Island where mud-covered straw "gods" (paantu) roam the village smearing residents and visitors to ward off evil.
- Dates
- October 10Dates follow the event's usual annual pattern — confirm with the organizer before you travel.
- Location
- Okinawa
- Nearest station
- No nearby station — bus to Shimajiri-iriguchi
- Crowd level
- National attendance
- Entry
- Free entry
- Official site
- miyako-guide.net/post-1959
Happens every year
What to expect
Earthy, wild and a little chaotic — getting smeared with sacred mud is considered good luck.
Best viewing tips
Dates are deliberately NOT pre-announced by the village (projected here as late October); wear old clothes and respect local rules — no photos of some rites.
How to get there
Fly to Miyako, then car/taxi to Shimajiri
Your turn
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